PASSENGERS on the National Express coach which crashed last night, killing two people, were settling down to sleep as the accident happened.

Many of the passengers, thought to be mostly Polish and Scottish, were thrown from their seats when the coach overturned on the sliproad joining the M4 junction 4b and M25 junction 15 just before midnight yesterday.

The coach was carrying two drivers and 67 passengers and many of those treated at Hillingdon Hospital this morning have now continued their onward journey.

In an official statement a spokesman from Hillingdon Hospital said: "The hospital was put on red alert at 12.30pm by emergency services and told to expect casualties from the traffic accident scene.

"Key staff were contacted via the hospital switchboard under the protocols set down by our major incident plan. Over 60 staff, doctors, nurses and others responded within the hour.

"In all the hospital received 37 casualties in the accident and emergency department, four of these were seriously injured and two, one male and one female, have subsequently died.

"The two remaining seriously injured are in a critical condition. Nineteen people were treated and released from hospital in the early hours of this morning and the majority have continued on their onward journey.

"The remaining casualties remain as patients at the hospital, suffering from trauma injuries. Many of the injuries include broken and dislocated limbs, back injuries and cuts and bruises."

Other passengers were treated at West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth, St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, Charing Cross and St Mary's hospitals in London and Wexham Park in Slough.

The coach was a No 592 service which departed London Victoria at 10.30pm yesterday and was due to arrive in Aberdeen at 10.30am today. The service also ran to Heathrow Airport, Carlisle, Hamilton, Glasgow and Dundee before arriving in Aberdeen.